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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think she wants to be sacked?

42 replies

Edenviolet · 14/03/2015 18:26

We have had a cleaner for a few years now, everything has gone well and she was till recently punctual and reliable and did a good job.

The last few months things have gone downhill, to the point where she is meant to do three hours work but even when I'm at home will only do 1.5-2 hours and still wants the usual amount of money??
I pay her for the time done and this has not gone down well.
Also, I have noticed that less and less is actually being done as well- beds barely made, just the duvet pulled up, no washing up done anymore, floors not cleaned and bags of rubbish just left around. Yesterday she didn't even bother to go in the front room at all?

I've noticed a few other things too, she seems irritated by me. If I'm having a cup of tea while she's here I get comments like "I don't get time to drink tea or coffee" (despite the fact I always offer her a drink if I'm having one) or if I'm sitting down there's a lot of tutting etc. if there's anything new in the house or we've had any work done she scowls and tells me she can't afford x,y,z.
Part of me wonders is she really unhappy and should I try and talk to her or is she just bitter and actually wants me to sack her. Yesterday after she had been it really didn't look like the house had been cleaned at all and I've had to do a fair bit myself today when it didn't use to be the case as she did the three hours and got a lot done and the house stayed nice for a few days as she was so thorough.

OP posts:

CustardOmlet · 14/03/2015 18:28

Surely talking to her first would be a good option?

turquoiseamethyst · 14/03/2015 18:30

I think I could cope with everything other than snarky comments about cups of tea/sitting down! She'd have to go if it was my cleaner I think!

Dumbledoresgirl · 14/03/2015 18:32

I suppose the obvious advice would be to sit down with her and have a chat. Say you are wondering if anything is wrong. You have noticed her work has gone off the boil lately and she seems rather unhappy. Is she still enjoying the job? Is anything bothering her either here in your house or outside in her private life that she feels you should know about? Ultimately, does she wish to continue working for you?

It isn't a conversation I would like to have to have with someone but you are her employer and I think you are going to have to brace yourself and get on with it.

Original poster

Edenviolet · 14/03/2015 18:33

I've tried in as much as I've explained that I can only pay for the hours she is here and did she want to reduce them as she was only staying 1.5-2 hrs not 3 but she keeps saying she wants to do 3 hours but doesn't do it.

The previous week she cancelled coming on the day she was meant to and asked could she come on one of the days I'm not at home, I could tell that day she had not done anywhere near three hours then as all that had been done was a quick Hoover. There's obviously an issue of some sort and I'm not sure how to approach it, I'm torn between needing a decent cleaner and thinking that I should sack her and get another who will do the job properly as we really need the help or trying to help her as perhaps something is really wrong, I don't want to get too involved though as its not really my business and I don't want to pry.
Perhaps she just doesn't like us ?

OP posts:

TRexingInAsda · 14/03/2015 18:33

I would get rid tbh. You want 3 hours cleaning, she's doing half that! If I turned up at my job half the hours they wanted me to, I'd expect to be sacked too!

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 14/03/2015 18:33

Give her her cards, you're paying her for a service and she isn't delivering.

SurlyCue · 14/03/2015 18:35

Im a cleaner and i say get rid. She wants the money but doesnt want to do the work.

Original poster

Edenviolet · 14/03/2015 18:38

I feel like it should be a case of work not done to desired standard=the sack but I do tend to get too emotionally involved with things and I feel like there's more to this than just laziness.

I will talk to her next week, its just frustrating as I really need uncomplicated help at the moment as have a lot going on and now I'm having to do all the housework and worry about the cleaner. I don't want to rush in with sacking her in case there's something wrong but equally its just more to worry about.

OP posts:

StackladysMorphicResonator · 14/03/2015 18:39

Sack her - her personal life/issues are not your responsibility, and by her unpleasant comments I'd say she wants to be sacked.

ShanVanVocht · 14/03/2015 18:40

She's a cleaner who isn't doing the cleaning. You don't need to chat about her feelings, just sack her and get someone in who will do it.

finnbarrcar · 14/03/2015 18:43

Just say "this isn't working out" and get rid. You don't owe her anything. She's no right to make remarks about you having a cup of tea in her own home, it's none of her business.

Charlesroi · 14/03/2015 18:44

She's got a personal/family problem (as you said she'd been reliable up till recently) so you could try talking to her to see if you can help. I think you'll have to get rid though.

Original poster

Edenviolet · 14/03/2015 18:45

I just feel bad as she was really good at cleaning and nice for years! Suddenly its all changed and its very odd.

OP posts:

OddBodkins · 14/03/2015 18:49

Well if it was good for a long time but is bad now I'd suggest chatting to her about it. There must be some reason for her behaviour. Having said that it's totally out of order for her to be so rude and to expect full pay for half the work.

CocobearSqueeze · 14/03/2015 18:54

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

icelollycraving · 14/03/2015 18:55

If she was good & now isn't I'd tell her that. I'd say you were really happy with her work but she's now too expensive on the hourly rate for the work she does. See if she acknowledges it. I don't really understand why she'd want to get sacked,surely she would just stop coming. Basically tell her to get her act together or you'll be replacing her. I'd change locks too.

MissMuesli · 14/03/2015 19:18

With the lack of work and sarky comments I would get rid to be honest. It would be different if it was an office cleaner, but I wouldn't want someone in my home who is rude and snappy. She isn't doing her job properly, and is being awkward about it to.

BallsforEarrings · 14/03/2015 19:34

I'd sack her - in a nutshell her problems are not yours and your home isn't being cleaned!

You don't need to give her any warning or follow any procedures, you are not her employer she is self-employed you can just get rid as you wish!

There's no excuse for not delivering the service level you have promised your client in the initial meeting!

Stratter5 · 14/03/2015 19:38

I had exactly the same with a cleaner when I worked FT. Started off fantastic, then things seem to gradually slide.

Get rid. She's rude, lazy, and crap. You don't pay for rude lazy crap.

CupidStuntSurvivor · 14/03/2015 19:43

She sounds dreadful OP.

I'd have a word. But I wouldn't go softly softly. I'd start with "We seem to have reached a bit of a cross roads. I definitely need a cleaner and I need 3 hours. When you first started, you were giving me 3 full hours and you were working to a good standard. But you seem unhappy, almost hostile, recently, aren't staying 3 hours and the standard is poor. If there's a problem that I can help you with, please let me know now because if things don't improve I'll be forced to look for a new cleaner."

RevoltingPeasant · 14/03/2015 19:48

I never understand the hand wringing on here over cleaners.

You are not her employer. She is a sole trader working in your home and others for a rate dictated by her. Unless she is a full time housekeeper which doesn't seem to be the case here.

If a plumber or handyman or window cleaner who came in regularly acted like this, would you have an in depth chat about his personal life, or would you be on Google finding someone else?

I can see from a human POV that it'd be nice to talk to someone with who you've had a business relationship for as long as you have with her. I probably would. But at the end of the day, she is a contractor hiring out her services, and if she is going to act like an arse, then she can expect to lose work, same as anyone.

iniquity · 14/03/2015 19:50

She sounds like she has become bitter and fed up tbh. Maybe she is struggling with things atm that she wasn't before.
If you are kind you would talk to her first before sacking.
The easy thing to do is sack her and replace with another servant asap

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 14/03/2015 19:53

I'd just get rid of her.

Sazzle41 · 14/03/2015 19:54

It started off well from what you say, so is it that she has a short attention span and is now bored with/dislikes the job? Or are there personal issues affecting her and if those were addressed it would go back to how it was?. Why not ask her and then decide?

BallsforEarrings · 14/03/2015 20:03

RevoltingPeasant has it in one - she is selling a service that she is not delivering, someone else will be able to deliver such.

Its purely business so get shut and get another service. It's her own fault -she is accountable for her own standards of service, if she cannot please her clients they should go elsewhere.

I think she may want to be sacked as you suspect! Sometimes cleaners don't know how to tell clients they just don't want their business any more so hope to get fired.

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